The “Bare Life” of Thai Migrant Workmen in Singapore
May 5, 2021
May Day (aka Labour Day) is observed every 1st of May in Singapore. It commemorates the workforce, reminding us of its value to society. The importance of having a productive and driven workforce cannot be underestimated given the lack of natural resources in land-scarce Singapore.
Singapore also faces a labour shortage in low-skilled jobs, which it strives to overcome by encouraging and facilitating the employment of foreign workers. These workers are a key pillar of Singapore’s economic development, and comprise approximately one-third of the country’s workforce. More must be done to raise public awareness regarding the human rights and fair treatment of migrants in Singapore.
Associate Professor Pattana Kitiarsa (former faculty member, NUS Southeast Asian Studies) specialised in research on Thai migrant workers and spent over seven years observing Thai migrants in Singapore. His monograph, The “Bare Life” of Thai Migrant Workmen in Singapore (Silkworm Books, 2014), explores the social life of Thai contract workers in Singapore. These workers not only shoulder heavy burdens as breadwinners for families back home, but also negotiate their diminishing gender roles as low-skilled male migrant workers in a global city.
A/P Kitiarsa applies the concept of “village transnationalism” to explain the complex predicament of Thai migrant workers. They remain rural villagers at heart despite working in urban Singapore, retaining their traditional identities and cultural worlds of the Thai countryside. He also shares narratives of their experiences of social exclusion, hardship, and intimacy, as well as their religious beliefs and music preferences, demonstrating the impact village transnationalism has on Thai migrant workers’ lifestyles and community networks.
A/P Kitiarsa passed away in 2013, and this posthumously published book provides valuable insight into the practice of transnational labour and its effects on migrant workers who make their living in transient places. Furthermore, his research highlights the prejudice and stereotypes foreign workers face in Singapore and paves the way for increasing empathy among societies that host foreign labourers.
Purchase a copy of the book here: https://silkwormbooks.com/products/bare-life-thai-migrant